King Charles III has appointed Welsh harpist Mared Pugh-Evans the King’s Harpist. Pugh-Evans becomes the seventh official harpist to His Majesty since he re-established the role in 2000 as Prince of Wales to foster Welsh talent on the harp, the national instrument of Wales. Previous harpists occupying the role include Catrin Finch, Jemima Phillips, Claire Jones, Hannah Stone, Anne Denholm, and Alis Huws.
“When I first asked for harp lessons at six years old it never crossed my mind that I would become the King’s Harpist,” Pugh-Evans says. “Receiving this role is a great honor and a great responsibility. I am looking forward to introducing the harp to new and diverse audiences but also sharing my Welsh heritage and language, Cymraeg, with people from across the UK and further afield.”
Prior to her appointment as King’s Harpist, Pugh-Evans has performed for royalty on several occasions, including the former Prince of Wales’ 70th Birthday Tour and the 20th Anniversary of the National Assembly of Wales. Her first performance in her new position as King’s Harpist will be on July 11 when King Charles III and Queen Camilla visit Cardiff, Wales, for the 25th anniversary of the Welsh Parliament (Senedd).
As a freelance musician based in London, Pugh-Evans currently works with the Music for Life program at Wigmore Hall and Live Music Now in London and the South East. She is also co-founder of Music in Hospices, which was recently longlisted for the Deutsche Bank Creative Entrepreneurship Awards 2024. “My current community work… is central to my belief that music is for everyone, that each person can participate in music-making and that music can help uplift, support and bring joy to every life,” she says. “As co-founder of Music in Hospices I have seen first-hand the pleasure and peace that music can bring to people in the most difficult circumstances.”
Pugh-Evans graduated from the Royal Welsh College of Music & Drama with First Class Honours in 2020 and went on to receive her Master of Arts: Performance (First Class) from the Royal Academy of Music in London. She has won multiple national and international awards, including sixth prize at the 12th USA International Harp Competition in 2022. Learn more about Pugh-Evans on her website.
